Electric hair curlers



1969 A. N. DELIA ETAL 3,487,197

ELECTRIC HAIR CURLERS Filed Jan. 5. 1967 Z U B M w m z W 75 4 MW 4 WW United States Patent ()filice 3,487,197 Patented Dec. 30, 1969 US. Cl. 219--222 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A hair curling assembly comprising an electrically non-conductive housing defining a hair curler, the housing having an open end, an electrically insulative phenolic sleeve being disposed in the housing. A heating element is disposed between the housing and the sleeve which supports the heating element on its outer surface. A base is provided with means on the base and the housing for detachably interconnecting the housing and the base. A plug insert, fabricated from a refractory material closes the open end of the housing and is provided with electrical contacts for electrically connecting the heating element of the curler to a source of electrical power. Thermostatic control means are disposed within the sleeve and are electrically connected in series to the plug insert and the heating element for controlling the passage of electrical power from the source to the electrical contact means.

This invention relates basically to a cosmetic appliance and more particularly to an electrically heated hair curler.

Various types of roller curlers have been devised for use in setting hair. Many of these devices employ configurations and/or prongs about which the hair is entrained so as to set the same. It has been found, however, that when roller curlers are used to set hair, especially for styling straight hair, application of heat is often desirable in that a better and longer lasting set can be obtained. Various forms of roller curlers for hair have previously been designed so that the hair curler could be heated by boiling in water, after which the heated curler was then placed in the hair to set the hair. This method was a time consuming and unhandy procedure due to the fact that the heated curler was often difficult, distasteful or painful to handle and therefore necessarily had to be allowed to cool sufficiently to allow for the touching thereof by the user thus reducing the effective operating temperature of the curler. However, it has been said that the optimum temperature for use in setting the hair is in the order of 145 to 200 P. which degree of heat may be somewhat distasteful to finger touch, but when entrained in the hair and insulated thereby from the skin is unobtrusive and not uncomfortable. To this end, the present invention has for one of its objects the provision of a hair curler that may be electrically heated and which is so arranged that for a predetermined period after the curler has been subjected to electric heating, the outer surface thereof is not heated so that the curler is completely comfortable to handle when setting the hair.

In carrying out the invention, the hair curler employs an insert of a refractory material such as ceramic, porcelain, or the like, which is disposed within an outer housing or covering with the insert being so arranged to receive a heating element in the interior thereof whereby after the heating element has been excited for a predetermined period of time, the heat from the heating element does not pass immediately to the outer housing for a further predetermined period of time, thereby allowing the hair curler to be placed in the hair before the outer surface heats up and thereafter heats up to treat the hair entrained about the particular hair curler.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hair curler which may be safely and efiiciently heated in a minimal period of time.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a a roller curler for use in setting hair that may be electrically heated by simply plugging into a suitable device, and which is provided with a thermostatically con trolled safety means for insuring against the possibility of overheating the roller curler.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hair curler which may be safely and efl'lciently heated in a minimal period of time, which will retain the heat by an outside heating source.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a roller curler for use in setting hair that may be electrically heated by simply plugging into a suitable device, such as an automobile cigar lighter and which is provided with a thermostatically controlled safety means for insuring against the possibility of overheating the roller curler, which will retain the heat after disconnection.

Still further objects and features of the invention reside in the provision of a roller curler that is simple in construction, strong and durable, capable of being manufactured out of readily available materials, yet which may be utilized and employed in conventional hair setting procedures and which will better condition the hair for a particular styling by employing the providing optimum amounts and degree of heat for a predetermined amount of time.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by these roller curlers, preferred embodiments being shown in the accompanying drawing, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded vertical sectional view of a hair curler and energizing appliance utilized in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of the invention; and,

FIG. 3 is an exploded vertical sectional view of a further modified form of the invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 generally designates a preferred embodiment of the invention, which includes two main portions, an energizing appliance 12 and a roller curler, generally designated at 14 The roller curler 14 includes an outer housing 16 provided with cylindrical side walls and a lower sleeve portion 20 integral with the side walls and a lower sleeve portion 22 which extends below an electrically insulated insert 24 disposed within the housing 16.

The insert 24 is of a nonconductive material, preferably formed of a refractory ceramic or porcelain-like substance, and is provided with a pair of bores 26 and 28 therethrough disposed centrally and well inwardly from the outer surface of the ceramic insert 24 and which are spaced from each other by means of the insert 24.

The insert 24 is securely mounted in a phenolic sleeve 30, disposed within the outer housing 16, around which a Nichrome heating element 32 is disposed. A mica or like insulative shield 33 is positioned between the outer housing 16 and the phenolic sleeve 30. A contact prong 34 extends through the bore 28 of the insert 24 which prong 34 is connected to one end of the Nichrome heating element 32. The Nichrome heating element 32 is spirally wrapped about the phenolic sleeve 30 and is connected to a compound bar type thermostat 40 which is of a 3 conventional construction. The thermostat 40 is suspended in the hollow interior of the phenolic sleeve 30 within the housing 16. A wire conductor 38 is connected to the other prong 36 so as to complete an operatable electrical circuit within the housing of the roller curler.

The compound bar thermostat 40 is constructed so that it will remain closed until such a time when the Nichrome heating element reaches a temperature of 160 degrees F. at which time the compound bar 42 will open the electrical circuit within the roller curler by opening the contacts 44. The thermostat 40 is so designed that the compound bar 42 will close the circuit by closing the contacts 44 when the temperature of the Nichrome heating element 32 drops below 158 degrees F. This feature is particularly important in view of the fact that the limited range wherein the thermostat 40 remains open permits the roller curlers to be maintained at the exact heat desired in the energizing appliance 12 until ready for use. Further, this narrow temperature range serves to speed up the time necessary to reheat a curler after use.

In order to heat the roller curler to its operating temperature the pins 34, 36 on the curler housing 14 are inserted into the openings 50, 52 in the raised portion 54 of the receptacle 12. An electrical cord 56 having a plug 58 attached at the free end thereof is provided which is to be plugged into a standard wall socket. The cord 56 enters the receptacle base 12 where it is split into two strands 60, 62. One strand, 60, is connected to opening 50 in the raised portion 54 of the receptacle 12. The remaining strand 62 goes to a neon pilot light 64 or any other type of pilot light as may be desired. A further conductor wire 66 is drawn from the pilot light 64 and is connected to opening 52 in the raised portion 54 of the receptacle 12.

In the event that it is so desired the receptacle 12 can be ganged together so as to form a multiple receptacle base as is shown in FIG. 1.

When the roller curler 14 is plugged into a receptacle 12 the electrical circuit is completed and the pilot light 64 will light thereby showing that the roller curler is being heated. Once the roller curler has reached the desired temperature the thermostat 40 will open thereby breaking the circuit and extinguishing the pilot light 64 which shows the user that the curler has been properly heated and is ready for use.

In use, the hair curler 14 is disposed into engagement with receptacle 54 for approximately 25 seconds at which time the disc thermostat 40 will open the circuit. However, the heat supplied by the Nichrome heating element 32 will take a period of approximately 30 seconds to pass from the center of the ceramic insert 24 and the center of phenolic sleeve 30 to the outer surface of the housing 16 so that for approximately onehalf a minute, the hair curler 14 is convenient and com fortable to hold. After the hair curler has been inserted in the hair, it will give off an optimum amount and degree of heat for hair setting.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2, reference numeral 110 generally designates this form of the invention which includes a plug in portion generally indicated at 112, which is adapted to fit into a cigar lighter receptacle in an automobile, boat or airplane, as well as a roller curler generally indicated as 114.

The roller curler 114 includes an outer housing 116 having cylindrical side walls 118, a top 120, and a lower sleeve portion 122. The plug 124 is disposed around the lower sleeve of the housing 116 and is formed in a way as can be secured to the outer wall 118 of the housing 116. An inner housing 126 is provided within the housing 116 which may be of a phenolic material. Extending inwardly from the plug 124 is a wire 128 which is connected to a Nichrome wire heating element 132 and a thermostat 140 connected in series with the heating coil 132. A second wire 136 is connected to the contact 138 on the plug 124 to complete the electrical circuit. An interior ceramic filler of a heat conductive material may be placed within the inner housing 126.

It is to be understood that ceramic material utilized is of a nature as will hold the heat which is transmitted therethrough for a period of time as will be suificient to effectuate the curling of the hair.

In use the preheated hair curler will be positioned on the head of the user and the hair will be wound around the curler after which a securement clip or band, not shown, will be inserted to maintain the hair about the clip.

Further, it is to be understood that the construction of the roller curler employed and illustrated in FIG. 1 can be used with equal facility in this embodiment merely by modifying the same so as to accept the plug portion 112.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 3, reference numeral 210 generally designates this form of the invention which includes a roller curler 214 having an outer housing 216 having cylindrical side walls 218, a top 220 and a recessed lower portion or bore 222. The recessed portion 222 is formed with cylindrical side walls 224. The innermost surface 226 of the receptacle 222 is formed of a heat absorbing, heat conductive material and has two extensions 228 and 230 which are embedded in a ceramic heat transferable material 232. The extensions 228, 230 are of a heat conductive material and are designed to transfer the heat from the surface 226 to the heat transferable material 232 and to the outer housing 216.

The heat is applied to the inner surface 226 by a standard automobile cigarette lighter 240 which after being heated in the automobile cigarette lighter receptacle is pressed into the recessed lower portion 222 of the hair curler and is held against the surface 226 until the heat transference has taken place, which heat transference requires from 15 to 30 seconds, after which the curler is wound about the hair.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

We claim:

1. A hair curling assembly comprising an electrically nonconductive housing defining a hair curler, said housing having an open end, an electrically insulative hollow sleeve coextensive with said housing disposed in said housing, an electric heating element disposed between said housing and said sleeve, said sleeve supporting said heating element on its outer surface, a base including contacts for distributing electric current therefrom, means on said base and said housing for detachably electrically interconnecting said housing and said base, said interconnecting means including a plug insert fabricated from a refractory material closing said open end of said housing and being provided with electrical contacts mating with said contacts in said base for electrically connecting said heating element of said curler to a source of electrical power in said base, thermostatic control means disposed within said sleeve and electrically connected in series between said contacts on said plug insert and said heating element for controlling the passage of electrical power to said heating element.

2. A hair curling assembly according to claim 1, wherein said heating element is spirally wrapped about said sleeve, and an electrically and thermally insulative shield disposed about said heating element between said heating element and said housing, said electrically and thermally insulative shield being coextensive with said sleeve.

3. A hair curling assembly according to claim 1,

5 6 wherein said housing has a hollow phenolic sleeve por- 2,394,973 2/1946 Bergen 13237 X tion, said plug insert including a sheath of electrically 2,456,080 12/1948 Sohns 219241 insulative material having a pair of electrical contact pins 3,250,895 5/ 1966 McNair 219222 embedded therein, said sleeve portion surrounding said 3,257,541 6/ 1966 Jorgensen 219--222 pins, said pins serving to connect said heating element 5 FOREIGN PATENTS to a source of electrical power.

References Cited 629,387 7/1927 France.

ANTHONY BARTIS, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,779,905 10/1930 Dinger 132-36 10 1,927,001 9/1933 Lewis 219222 219 242,241;132-33 

